17-acre LA Square development plans move forward in Troy

A spokesman for the developer of the new 17-acre mixed use development in Troy called “LA Square” says plans for the complex are moving forward.The Oakland Press reported late last week that the developer, Detroit native Remo Polselli, had not filed paperwork with the City of Troy yet.The reason for the paperwork not being filed is that Polselli is in the process of finalizing the layout and design of the complex.Spokesman for the California Hotels Corp., Richard Halstrom, says that things are looking good, as Polselli has met with city officials and attended council meetings.Halstrom said that Polselli is a good person, trying to make a stronger Detroit.“We believe in the City of Detroit, we believe the city is going to come back … and we are looking forward to bringing LA Square to the community,” Halstrom said.The previous Oakland Press article reported that there were at least 40 lawsuits against Polselli in Oakland County Circuit Court since the 1980s, which Halstrom confirmed.Halstrom said: “Mr. Polselli has been in over 40 lawsuits, but he has been in business for over 33 years and has owned over 100 hotels.”Polselli and his wife Hanna Karcho-Polselli also owned Sugar Loaf Resort in northern Michigan, but sold it to Kate Wickstrom in 2005.The Leelanau Enterprise reported that Hanna was in control of the payments, but Halstrom said Wickstrom was in control.Halstrom said that Wickstrom was responsible for the payments. He said Hanna guaranteed the mortgage and gave $600,000 toward the resort.Halstrom said Wickstrom stopped making payments and it was Hanna that ultimately paid $500,000 in taxes in the past five years.It was also reported that hotels Polselli previously owned had utilities shut off, but Halstrom said this is untrue.Polselli sold the Detroit St. Regis in 2003 and he was not responsible for utilities being shut off in 2010. Halstrom said the Plaza Hotel in Southfield was sold by Polsell in 1997 and that he was not involved in the utilities being shut off in 2009.